Chapter 88:Startling With Each Step Part 1

Gao Min coldly smiled; “First off, congratulationsto you. You are moving upwards, if you successfully become the consort wife ofThird Prince, then that’s something.”

Li Wei Yang watched her with a cold gaze: “Biao jie,besides speaking rubbish, what else are you good at?”

Gao Min held back her smile, clenched her fists, and stared at her. Shegrinded her teeth and said: “Don’t think I don’t understand your intentions,don’t forget, you are merely a lowly-born daughter of a concubine. Don’t dreamabout a.s.sociating yourself with the princes and becoming the main wife. Themost you can be is a concubine, by then ---”

Watching her domineering face, Li Wi Yang couldn’thelp but feel disgusted: “What do you mean a.s.sociating with the princes, don’tview everyone that way you see yourself.”

Gao Min angrily said: “I obviously saw you andThird Prince together and you still dare speak with great confidence, you areshameless!”

“Gao Min, why should I even explain it to you, whatdo you think you are!” Li Wei Yang stared at her directly, one word at a time,she slowly spoke: “Since you like Tuoba Zhen, go look for him, what is thepoint in bothering me, don’t you feel ashamed?”

Gao Min couldn’t believe her own ears, Li Wei Yangoutwardly pointed out that she liked Tuoba Zhen! Thinking about this, she hadbeen speaking about Third Prince, who wouldn’t have been able to guess that sheliked Tuoba Zhen?! Li Wei Yang wasn’t an idiot! But because now that her innersecret had been revealed, she became even more frustrated: “Li Wei Yang, youdare to speak to me like this?! Aren’t you afraid I tell the Third Prince?!”

Li Wei Yang smiled sweetly: “If you want to go,then go tell. I’ve never hid my temper in front of him. Please remember to alsotell him that you like him and that you want to marry him and see if he iswilling to marry you as his main wife. But considering that we are cousins, Iwant to remind you that Tuoba Zhen is a man of judgment and ambition, so yourFather being a mere marquis wouldn’t be something in his eyes!”

Gao Min bit her teeth: “What did you say?!” Deepwithin her heart, she knew what Li Wei Yang just said was the truth. Wei Guofuren had once entered the palace to test the waters with Concubine Wu Xian.Concubine Wu Xian didn’t say much but once she brought it up in front of TuobaZhen, he tactfully rejected her intentions. The Marquis of Bo Chang, uponhearing this, scolded Wei Guo furen that she was too overconfident and saidTuoba Zhen had great ambitions and wouldn’t place their declining family as achoice of ally. But as a young lady in love, Gao Min didn’t believe Tuoba Zhenwould fall for a low thing. She wholeheartedly thought that because they hadless interactions, it resulted in Tuoba Zhen giving her a cold treatment. As aresult, she fought for this chance to tag along and who would had known thatonce Tuoba Zhen saw Li Wei Yang, he would abandon her. She immediately a.s.sumedthat Li Wei Yang was a nine-tailed fox, who stole Tuoba Zhen’s attention awayfrom her! “Don’t act like a savage, Third Prince is mine! No one can steal himaway from me!”

“I can’t control who Tuoba Zhen belongs to nor do I care! What I had tosay, I’ve already spoken it. I don’t care about these metal sc.r.a.ps that youconsider treasure, if you like, take it away as you please. But

onelast word, take your Third Prince with you and run faraway, I don’t want to seea group of crazy dogs barking in front of me!” Li Wei Yang’s voice steadilyrose, she approached her step by step as Gao Min retreated step by step. Thearrogance on Gao Min’s face slowly vanished as whiteness appeared.

“Better work hard, I am giving you my blessings in becoming the ThirdPrince’s consort wife sooner or later!” Saying this, Li Wei Yang lightlysounded a humph, didn’t give her another glance and turned to leave.

Gao Min was furious to the point of shaking. She quickly approached aplot of gra.s.s and pulled out the gra.s.s one by one and then brusquely stepped onit.

“Xiao jie, don’t get angry!” Her maidservant, frightful as she watchedon the side, softly urged.

Gao Min, without much thought, abruptly gave her a slap. The maidservantheld her cheek as she hid on one side.

Gao Min’s face was warped; the enmity caused herwhole body to shake, she clenched her teeth and then word by word whispered: “LiWei Yang, I will remember this!”

You’ve stolen Third Prince away from me and now you are acting arrogant?I won’t let this end! I won’t just sit there without doing anything!

Giving it a thought, she suddenly smiled, her voice was sharp. That’sright, as long as Li Wei Yang didn’t exist, the Third Prince will eventuallynotice her.

If only she was dead!

Li Wei Yang had always been in the Li residence and rarely stepped outso there wasn’t much a chance. But not that she is out, to eliminate her, therewere many ways!

The maidservant on the side watched her face showed deep intentions of acold war.

Gao Min circled around twice outside Concubine WuXian’s tent. Now that the Third Prince had all his thoughts on this b.i.t.c.h,marrying her would be sooner or later. If she let her marry Third Prince first,then she will not have any hopes! She had both the looks and talent, how couldshe lose to a lowly thing! But now, how could she reverse her position? As shethought over this, she thought of Concubine Wu Xian. She is Tuoba Zhen’sadopted mother, she raised him by her side and Tuoba Zhen had always listenedto her words. If she revealed everything in front of her, she will definitelystop Tuoba Zhen from marring such a lowly-born woman! After deciding, sheapproached the tent but once she arrived at the entrance, she was blocked by apalace maid: “Gao Xiaojie, Concubine Wu Xian had been summoned by the Emperor,she’s not in the tent.” The palace maid said respectfully.

Gao Min’s complexion paled. Sheobviously heard sounds within the tent, why was Concubine Wu Xian not willingto see her?! How could she have known that the Marquis of Bo Chang’s family, ifit wasn’t for their marriage alliance with Prime Minister Li, wouldn't behighly respected? But it’s only Wei Guo furen who doesn’t understand this andas a result, the daughter she had raised also didn’t understand the complexityof this nature.

Gao Min bit her tongue and a cool s.h.i.+mmer flashed across her eyes.Concubine Wu Xian wasn’t willing to see her, what should she do?

She angrily returned to her own tent and once she saw Wei Guo furen, sherushed over into her arms.

“Mother, you must help daughter this time. IfMother help daughter out this time, daughter will definitely succeed!”

Wei Guo furen was frightened by her insaneexpression. She quickly signaled the maidservants to leave and helped her up: “Miner, slowly tell me, what has happened!”

Gao Min bit her lips, her face was pale white, thelight in her pair of eyes were enough to frighten others: “Mother, you musthelp kill Li Wei Yang!”

Speaking up to here, she told Wei Guo furen everything that transpiredtoday; as Wei Guo furen listened, her brows clenched tighter and tighter.

“You are saying, Li Wei Yang was with the Seventh Prince then?” Sheadeptly held onto this point.

“Yes, they were speaking and smiling, she is really shameless!” Gao Minbit her teeth together.

Wei Guo furen began to smile: “If that’s the case,Mother has an idea.”

“What idea do you have, I originally wanted Concubine Wu Xian to stopthe Third Prince and give Li Wei Yang a little punishment, but who would haveknown she was not willing to see me! She obviously looks down on our family!”Gao Min cried as expressed her grievances.

Wei Guo furen coldly made a humph: “Ever since yourbrother died, who in the palace hasn’t been pretending to be respectful towardsus but secretly looked down on us, oh, sadly, your second brother let us down,but, if we can’t go to Concubine Wu Xian, we can go to Concubine Zhang De!”

The mother of the Seventh Prince? Gao Min frowned.

Wei Guo furen smiled: “Concubine Zhang De has highhopes for the Seventh Prince, do you think she would let the Seventh Princelike Li Wei Yang without stepping in?”

“But ---”

“Foolish yatou, if we acted with our own hands, wewould inevitably seek trouble upon ourselves. But if the person who acted isConcubine Zhang De, no one can put the blame on us!” Wei Guo furen reminded,then immediately rose and said, “Let’s go, let’s go see Concubine Zhang Detogether.”

Two hours later, a small kitten jumped into the tent, giving Bai Zhi ascare. Zhao Yue was about to take out her sword when Li Wei Yang stopped her.

This cat’s entire body was snow white, his eyeswere amber, one look, it could be deduced that this was an invaluable breed. LiWei Yang already guessed which n.o.ble family the cat belonged to; she was aboutto order the cat to be release outside, a young palace maid entered, “Aiya,Zhui er, you’re here! You’ve troubled me to look everywhere!” She picked up thecat and then noticed Li Wei Yang and others, a smile appeared on her face: “It’sXianzhu, this is Concubine Zhang De’s cat, she had been looking for it for a while,the cat actually came here.”

Li Wei Yang calmly smiled and said: “It’s actuallythe concubine’s beloved pet, then quickly return it back.”

The palace maid didn’t budge from her position: “Thecat was found at Xianzhu’s, then Xianzhu should come with your maidservant toreturn the cat.”

Li Wei Yang conspicuously wrinkled her brows; the cat was obviously letin by someone, how did she become the one to have found it ------ this meantConcubine Zhang De wanted to see her.

She pondered and said: “Okay, let me preparemyself.”

The palace maid smiled: “No need, Concubine ZhangDe is waiting.”

Li Wei Yang stood up and said: “If that’s the case,then please lead the way.”

Standing in front of Concubine Zhang De’s tent, LiWei Yang paused her steps. A female official was standing at the door as shewatched Li Wei Yang entered. Her eyes coldly traveled on her and then stoppedand said: “Concubine Zhang De is waiting, please enter.”

Her condescending tone made others felt unpleasant. Concubine Zhang Dehad always been known for her virtuous manner, how would she allow her femaleofficial to reveal such a haughty disposition? Li Wei Yang couldn’t help butsuspect that they were displaying their authority to her.

But why? Could it be because she and her son had spoken a few words?Then all these Xiaojies of Da Li who had gifted small purses, perfumed satchel,and even pillows would have been eaten alive by Concubine Zhang De? Li Wei Yangsuppressed her complex thoughts and continued to walk forward.

The decorations within the tent were elegantlyarranged; a female official lifted the beaded curtain. Li Wei Yang looked downand then slowly walked in. Lavender incense was lit inside making theatmosphere inside serious yet also sweet. Li Wei Yang actually didn’t like anylavender-scented smell so she stealthily held in her breath and then bowed withmanners: “Greetings to Concubine Zhang De.”

Silence lingered for a long moment that when Li WeiYang almost believed there was no one there, a voice was heard: “You are thethird daughter of the Li family?”

“Yes.” Li Wei Yang answered softly.

“Raise your head!”

Li Wei Yang raised her head steadily. Concubine Zhang De sat in her ownthrone. Her posture was graceful and her green-colored skirt beautifully flowedonto the ground. She was very beautiful, her brows were meticulously drawn withink, her eyes shone with brilliance, the sunlight s.h.i.+ning into the tentsketched the contours of her side profile, and her eyelashes were long.

She didn’t know why her face seemed this crisp and cold, she runs in thesame groove with Seventh Prince Tuoba Yu.

While Li Wei Yang looked at her, she was also trying to read Li WeiYang.

Her eyes carried a trace of astonishment and a hint of probing, watchedher and then sighed.

“Born well, like a water lilies.” Merely onephrase, it seemed like she was speaking to herself. Soon after, Concubine ZhangDe smiled, the ta.s.sel on her dangling hair ornament sounded, “I’ve heard, youare a daughter of a concubine, your mother was a servant, is that true?”

Li Wei Yang answered with no change in expression: “Yes.”

“To be able to reach your position today, you must have come up withmany ideas.” Concubine Zhang De raised her lower jaw and stared at Li Wei Yang,“What relations.h.i.+p do you have with Yu er?”

Li Wei Yang looked up and directly into Concubine Zhang De’s eyes: “I haveno relations.h.i.+p with the Seventh Prince, we are simply ordinary friends.”Perhaps, allies.

Concubine Zhang De originally thought she was alady that wanted to move upward but hearing her response and seeing the way sheplaced emphasis on the word ordinary, but now she didn’t understand her.Confusedness appeared in her eyes yetmomentarily vanished, she calmly voiced: “Your temperament, has it always beenthis direct?”

Li Wei Yang calmly said: “Concubine wishes Wei Yangto speak the truth so Wei Yang is simply expressing her own heart. I know withmy background, the Seventh Prince and I are not the best match so I never daredto think more.”

Such firm determination! Concubine Zhang De wa.s.suddenly amazed, she rose and slowly approached her. She lifted Li Wei Yang’sface, meticulously observed and then said: “Yu er really likes you, he wouldoften find himself mentioning you .”

He would bring up the Li family’s third daughter with delight.

But seeing Li Wei Yang today, Concubine Zhang De was a bit disappointed;this yatou didn’t have an alluring appearance yet how did his son who had highexpectations become infatuated with her?

Li Wei Yang was surprised and then looked intoConcubine Zhang De’s eyes and answered: “The prince only admires; love does notexist between us.”

Concubine Zhang De astonis.h.i.+ngly gazed at her and then released hergrasp.

“Since you are this humble …… haha ……” ConcubineZhang De continued as if she thought of something fascinating, she smilinglysaid, “But, Yu er’s future is limitless, he needs the support of many people.An arranged marriage is the best way, you are after all the daughter of thePrime Minister and also Yu er’s true love, if you agree to becoming aconcubine, then I can fulfill your wish.”

Listening, Li Wei Yang was shocked and said: “Concubine,I don’t accept!”

Concubine Zhang De gave her a glance: “What? Do youdislike that the position as a concubine is too low? Don’t tell me you want tobe the main wife?”

At this moment, the atmosphere in the tent was sluggish.

Li Wei Yang shook her head and said: “No, I don’twant to be the main wife neither. Concubine is right, the Seventh Prince is ofroyal blood, he will fall in love with many people in the future. In fact, hewill definitely love them and dote on them but Wei Yang’s husband must loveonly Wei Yang this lifetime.”

Concubine Zhang De was completely stunned and half of Li Wei Yang’s facerested amidst the light. Her brows were delicate like a jaded sculpture. Hercrow black eyes held the glamour of the flashed lights and then carried aninexpressible determination and persistence.

She was absolutely not joking.

Concubine Zhang De almost couldn’t utter a word.

“You actually want one true pair of a lifetime and an eternity --- thisyatou!” Concubine Zhang De reacted and was almost enraged. Even though she didn’tlike Li Wei Yang but for her son, she had truly consider letting her become theSeventh Prince’s concubine, but she failed to appreciate!

“Concubine!” Li Wei Yang suddenly raised her voice,“It’s absolutely not that I look down on the Seventh Prince, but it’s theopposite. He is not just an ordinary offspring of the royal family. Concubinehas great hopes for him so Concubine should never allow an immature and selfishlady like me by his side! In Concubine’s eyes, the Seventh Prince is invaluableand thus can only be matched with a rare jade. As for me, I am merely a rock onthe road. I beg Concubine to not go further, I would never dream of becoming aphoenix! Instead of becoming a concubine of Seventh Prince and embroil myselfin continuous schemes and plots, I can seek an ordinary family and find an ordinaryman that will cherish and love me to spend the rest of my life together!”

Li Wei Yang’s words were like needle poking into Concubine Zhang De’sheart. She looked at her and felt terrified for a second. She slightly openedher mouth yet she didn’t make a sound and instead, showed a furious gaze.

“You are very naïve, which man doesn’t have three wives and fourmistresses, who do you think you are?!” Concubine Zhang De had a hard timefinding her own voice.

Li Wei Yang wasn’t naïve, she had already walked through the pathConcubine Zhang De had selected, royal prince and grandchildren, climb up theladder quickly, but in the end, what did she get after a lifetime of fighting?A stretch of nothing, that’s it. She originally didn’t want to say it thisclearly but if she didn’t, Concubine Zhang De might still keep the idea ofhaving her become Seventh Prince’s concubine. Becoming Tuoba Yu’s concubine isno different than marrying Tuoba Zhen, it was nothing more than repeating thepath she had gone down in her past life.

It was not wrong that Tuoba Yu holdsaffections towards her but there were times when Tuoba Zhen expressed lovetowards her in the past, everything was simply transient as a fleeting cloud.Who could guarantee that he will affectionately dote on her for a lifetime? So,she could never marry Tuoba Yu!

Speaking up until now, there was nothing more that could be discussedbetween the two.

Li Wei Yang thought of leaving but Concubine ZhangDe said: “Do you know how to play a piece?”

Li Wei Yang slowly said: “Not well-versed at it.”

“Play a piece for me to listen.” Concubine Zhang De suddenly said.

Music can open one’s heart, she wanted to know what type of person wasLi Wei Yang exactly.

Unlike the music played by theaverage ladies, Li Wei Yang’s music was oddly cold. The music was like the seamelting into the skies, in a foggy night, a lonely boat flowing into the ocean.This was a piece that made one feel cold and hopeless. Just by listening tothis, one can feel the loneliness and coldness in this young girl’s heart.

As Concubine Zhang De listened, she didn’t utter a single sound.

A corner of tent was suddenly lifted by someone anda palace maid rushed over. A string suddenly broke and she busily stood up: “WeiYang lost her etiquettes, please pardon me!”

It was as if Li Wei Yang had a mirror in her eyesthat separated her heart, coldly reflecting the outside world. But as she beganto play the qin, the mirror revealed a scar where Concubine Zhang De clearlycould clearly look into her eyes. The quiet and submerging black bottomless...o...b..e well within her eyes were boiling, she wasn’t lying. Concubine Zhang Desighed and soon her eyes revealed an uncertain expression of either sadness orsympathy: “Your heart, is tougher than a rock, and colder than ice.”

It was as if Li Wei Yang didn’t hear, she stood and then left like that.

Concubine Zhang De didn’t block her.

Lifting the tent, Li Wei Yang walked out. She felt the sunlight andwarmth outside was stabbing her eyes, she gently squinted her eyes.

“What happened?”

She turned her head and looked over to see Tuoba Yu approaching from adistant.

Li Wei Yang coldly watched him, her eyes were like a piece of cool ice.

Even though she kept a distance away from trouble,Li Wei Yang still showed a smile: “Your highness, please remind Concubine ZhangDe that not everyone in this world wants to become a phoenix.”

“You……” Tuoba Yu suddenly paused.

She had never thought about marrying the SeventhPrince and even thought about the misunderstanding this person bought forthupon her. Concubine Zhang De wasn’t a rash person and wouldn’t say such thingsbecause she and Tuoba Yu had been getting a little close lately unless Tuoba Yusaid something in front of her! Most likely in front of these aristocrats, shewas merely a thing and can casually be bestowed a fate; they want her togratefully thank them for their bestowal! Dream on! No matter how infuriatedshe was, Li Wei Yang just coldly said: “Pardon.”

Tuoba Yu was slightly dumbfounded, the warmsmile he had slowly disappeared.

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Translator: Erica

Editor: Pending

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